Trans Nepal 2026 · 21 November – 1 December
Meet the Riders
Nine people, one Toyota 4×4. From Upper Mustang to Lumbini.
In a little over two weeks, a small band of riders will roll out on Trans Nepal 2026: ten days of gravel and dust from the wind-carved canyons of Upper Mustang, the old Kingdom of Lo, all the way down to Lumbini in the Terai, birthplace of the Buddha. Thin air and teahouse nights at the top, jungle heat at the bottom, and climbs in between that go on long after your legs have filed a formal complaint.
The line-up has two national champions, two surgeons, a charity fundraiser, a Swedish powerhouse, an Australian who flies (literally), a mystery guest and a director who still believes training is optional. This is who you’ll be following.
The Riders
Ron Bird
Bristol, UK · Riding for charity
Some people visit Nepal once and tick it off. Ron keeps coming back. After riding our Upper Mustang and Annapurna Circuit tours over the past year, Trans Nepal will be his third Himalayan adventure with us, and he clearly hasn’t had enough yet.
This time every pedal stroke counts double. Ron is riding to raise money for Variety, the Children’s Charity and Cancer Research UK.
Sponsor Ron
Zbigniew “Zbig” Wizner
Sweden · The powerhouse
A veteran of Rumble in the Jungle and Ride SriLankan, Zbig keeps his cards close to his chest. What we do know is that he loves a challenge, and he’ll be the one setting the pace on the climbs and the descents.
At around 6’3″, he’s also the only rider we know who has crossed the Ride SriLankan finish line inside a tuk tuk, bike and all. It was a bit of a squeeze. Nepal’s jeep has more legroom.
Tan Tryhorn
Mt Beauty, Australia · Sportswoman extraordinaire
Tawonga, Mt Beauty and Falls Creek are Tan’s stomping grounds, so expect her to fly up the hills. Mountain biker, road rider, paraglider and cross-country skier, she has finished Yak Attack several times, completed Rumble in the Jungle, and belongs to the very exclusive club who finished our Alpac Attack mountain bike adventure in South America.
After a bit of a break from the bike, Tan is using Trans Nepal as her motivation to get cycling fit again. There are worse places to find your legs.
Dr Bikash Parajuli
Nepal · Spinal surgeon and trip medic
Determination personified. With little or no training, Bikash has finished Yak Attack at least three times, maybe more. Last year he rode east to west across the whole of Nepal, raising funds for cancer patients in his home country.
In theatre he’s a spinal surgeon at Dhulikhel Hospital, near Kathmandu. Out of it, he’s one of the most laid-back people you’ll ever meet. He’ll also be our acting medic, which is reassuring for everyone, especially the director.
Stephan
Austria · The mystery guest
Little is known about Stephan. He’s a close friend of Dr Bikash, a paediatric surgeon based in Austria and, by his own admission, not a cyclist.
He has, however, been training for Trans Nepal, which already puts him ahead of at least one other member of the group. We look forward to finding out more somewhere above 3,000 metres.
Usha Khanal
Nepal · National mountain bike champion
Nepal’s national mountain bike champion and an all-round lovely person. Usha has been helping out on Multi Terrain Biking tours for a good few years. Her tireless energy has her riding the full stage every day, then organising everything from food orders to kitten fussing in the evening.
This year she’s treating Trans Nepal as preparation for the Nepal National Games, which start a week after we finish. Try to keep up. We won’t.
Ajay Pandit Chhetri
Nepal · Logistics and five-time champion
Ajay is a five-time Nepal national mountain bike champion, a five-time Yak Attack winner, and now Multi Terrain Biking’s main man on the ground in Nepal. He and Phil have been close friends for nearly 20 years, and in that time Phil has watched him disappear into the distance more times than he cares to count: uphill, downhill and on the flat.
Ajay will be running the logistics for Trans Nepal, and there’s no better place to do that from than the saddle. Expect some incredible photos from his phone lens.
Phil Evans
North Wales · Director, Multi Terrain Biking
Ever the optimist that he can ride anything with little or no training, and Trans Nepal is no different. Having crossed the Thorong La 17 times, you’d think he’d have had enough of high-altitude struggles. Apparently not.
This is Phil’s third Trans Nepal, because he simply loves Upper Mustang and Nepal. He’s the bookies’ favourite to be first into the broom wagon, and first to the Tungba.
The Crew
Aayman Tamang
Nepal · Jeep driver and chief entertainer
Not a rider any more, but every bit part of the team. Aayman retired from mountain bike racing a few years back, bought his own Toyota 4×4 and has never looked back since (except in the rear-view mirror, we hope).
He has a cheeky sense of humour like nobody else and is a driver you can trust on the gnarliest of trails. At parties, you’ll find him in the kitchen. He’s also in charge of the broom wagon, so Phil will be seeing a lot of him.
Follow the ride. We’ll be posting updates, photos and the occasional excuse from the trail between 21 November and 1 December.
Fancy joining us next time? Have a look at our Nepal tours and events, and don’t forget to sponsor Ron.
